2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey Aggregate Results May 2018 Maritime Beef Council
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2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Production Survey
Aggregate Results
May 2018
Maritime Beef Council
Table of Contents Page Section 1: Basic Production Statistics 5 Section 2: Important Dates and Statistics Related to 2017 Calf Crop 7 Section 3: Statistics About 2017 Calving Season 8 Section 4: Culling and Death Loss 12 Section 5: Reproductive Management Practices 13 Section 6: Calf Preconditioning 15 Section 7: Grazing, Feeding and Water Management 17 Section 8: Animal Health Management Practices 19 Section 9: Economics of Production 21 Section 10: Sources of Information 22 List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Farm operator statistics 5 Table 2: Farm operation statistics 6 Table 3: Technologies and management during the breeding season 7 Table 4: Calving management statistics 8 Table 5: Calving management for birth weights and health treatments 10 Table 6: Calf weaning weight data and collection 10 Table 7: Calf marketing strategies 11 Table 8: Breeding bull sources 13 Table 9: Pregnancy detection method for cows and heifers 14 Table 10: Calf dehorning management 15 Table 11: Castration management practises 16 Table 12: Weaning method typically used 16 Table 13: Frequency of pasture rejuvenation 17 Table 14: Cattle housing and sorting during winter months 18 Table 15: On-farm parasite management practises 19 Table 16: Mineral management on-farm 20 Table 17: Technologies and record keeping methods used on-farm 21 Table 18: Methods of information sharing and content preferred by producers 22 2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 2
Figure 1: Number of on-farm workers seasonally and full time 6 Figure 2: Calf deaths more than 24 hours after birth from heifers and cows. 9 Figure 3: Breeding female culling decisions in the fall 2016 and spring 2017 12 Figure 4: Bull culling decisions in 2017 12 Figure 5: Breeding technologies implemented on-farm 13 Figure 6: The top three selection criteria when choosing a herd sire. 14 Figure 7: Percentage of calves born polled 16 Figure 8: Grazing management practises for cows with calves 17 Figure 9: Average days on feed according to feed type 18 Figure 10: Typical injection site for health treatments 19 Appendix A: Summary of Performance and Management Measures 23 2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 3
This is the first time the Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey was administered in Atlantic Canada. The
purpose of this survey was to create an overall picture of current production practises on
beef operations in the region. With the implementation of the programs outlined in the
Maritime Beef Sector Development and Expansion Strategy, this survey will be repeated on
a bi-annual basis as a means to measure the impact of the strategy on the local beef industry.
The questions from this survey were modified from the Ontario Cow-Calf 2017 Production
Survey. Both the Ontario and Atlantic surveys have origins from the Western Canada Cow-
Calf Survey. This way, producers across the country can use the results from each of these
surveys as a benchmark on their operation. This survey was voluntary and 98% were
completed online.
In total, there were 65 fully completed surveys which answered all 79 questions. In Atlantic
Canada, there are approximately 1,680 producers reporting a cow-calf operation1. This
survey represents approximately 4% of Atlantic producers with beef cows.
Interpretation
To interpret this survey, the number of responses for each question will be in the right-hand
column. The results for each question will be the average answer for each question unless
otherwise stated. In the example below, 21% of respondents were under 35 years old, 13%
were between 35 and 45, and 66% were over 45 years old.
Replies Number of Responses
Age of Respondent
% Under 35 years 21% 36
% Over 35 years 13% 51
% Over 45 years 66% 110
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all of the respondents that took the time to complete this survey. To the New
Brunswick Cattle Producers, Nova Scotia Cattle Producers and Prince Edward Island
Producers for your support to disseminate the survey to producers. To the Western Beef
Development Center and Beef Farmers of Ontario for use of the question set. Finally, sincere
appreciation to the staff at Perennia who contributed to the development of the survey and
data collection.
1
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 4Section 1: Basic Production Statistics
Respondents were asked to provide the age, gender, Province and number of years in
production for the primary decision maker of the operation. The majority of the primary
decision makers were males over 45 years of age (Table 1). According to the 2016 Statistics
Canada report, Atlantic producers were typically over 55 years of age2.
Table 1: Farm operator statistics
Replies Number of Responses
Age of Respondent
% Under 35 years 21% 36
% Over 35 years 13% 51
% Over 45 years 66% 110
Gender
% Male 86% 144
% Female 13% 21
Other 2% 3
Province Farmer is Located
% New Brunswick 43% 72
% Nova Scotia 31% 52
% Prince Edward Island 26% 43
% Newfoundland and LabradorOver 50% of respondents reported working off farm at least part time (Table 2). On-farm
sales included mainly beef production, followed by “other,” which may include blueberry,
woodlot, and other crop production. Operations rely largely on the work of family members
on farm (Figure 1). Use of seasonal non-family members may include extra help for the
cropping season.
Table 2: Farm operation statistics
Replies Number of Responses
The Primary Decision Maker Works off the Farm
Full time 44% 74
Part time 18% 31
Not at all 26% 43
Other 22% 37
Livestock Production Activities On-Farm
Commercial 66% 148
Purebred 29% 89
Other 3% 12
On-Farm Sales
Beef 76% 167
Grain 3% 39
Forage 5% 52
Other 14% 66
Family Non-Family (seasonal) Non-Family (non-seasonal)
60
50
40
% Responses
30
20
10
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 >6
Number of Workers
Figure 1: Number of on-farm workers seasonally and full time
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 6Section 2: Important Dates and Statistics Related to 2017 Calf Crop
For the most part, females were exposed to natural service. The average number of breeding
females in the herd was 44 females (cows and heifers). The average length of breeding
season was 136 and 112 days for the cows and heifers respectively.
Table 3: Technologies and management during the breeding season
Cows Heifers Responses
Breeding Technologies
Number of females exposed to natural service 36 8 111
Number of females bred using artificial insemination 13 4 106
(AI)
Number of total females exposed to any breeding 35 6 41
Number of total females exposed to embryo transfer 6 2 92
Herd Total 37 7 7
Number of Bulls On-Farm
1 57% 73% 111
2 22% 11% 111
3 11% 7% 111
>4 11% 9% 111
Breeding Season Management
Average length of breeding season (days) 136 112 115
Number of open females sold 5 4 43
Number of open replacements 10 6 35
Number of bred females sold 3 3 17
Number of bred females purchased 4 2 21
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 7Section 3: Statistics About 2017 Calving Season
Due to the wet conditions often faced on Atlantic beef operations, 61% of respondents claim
to calve indoors, followed by calving on large pastures. The average calving period was 121
days for cows and 49 days for heifers. For both groups, over half of the calves were born in
the first 60 days of calving. Despite calving indoors, there was a low instance of calving
interventions.
Table 4: Calving management statistics
Responses
Barns or covered sheds 61% 44
Dry lot pens or corals 4% 3
Small grass paddocks (i.e. less than 5 acres) 8% 6
Large pastures 18% 13
Other 8% 6
Calving Period Cows Heifers Responses
Average length calving period (days) 121 49 66
Number of females that calved from Day 1 - 21 13 4 45
Number of females that calved from Day 22 - 42 9 3 40
Number of females that calved from Day 43 - 63 6 2 30
Number of females that calved from Day 64+ 5 3 20
Calving Statistics
Number of females that calved 33 5 65
Number of sets of twins 2 1 27
Number of calves bought prior to weaning 6 2 2
Number of cow-calf pairs bought 10 2 4
Number of calves sold prior to weaning 12 1 5
Number of cow-calf pairs sold 1 3 5
Number of cows that aborted 2 2 21
Number of bred cows sold 4 0 4
Number of bred heifers sold 0 4 1
Number of calves born dead or died within 24 hours 2 2 35
Number of calves died from Day 1-weaning 4 2 26
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 8Calving Interventions
Average number of unassisted calving 30 5 60
Average number of assisted calving 3 2 30
Average number of caesarean delivery 1 1 1
Calves which died more than 24 hours after birth are shown in Figure 2. Nearly 35% of
respondents claimed to give cows and heifers a scour vaccine prior to calving.
On average, cows lost their calves due to scours and/or respiratory diseases, such as
pneumonia, as well as difficult calving. Heifers on the other hand, largely lost their calves due
to weather, scours and mis-mothering.
Other Heifers Cows
Unknown
Mismothered
Difficult calving
Weather
Predator death (e.g. coyote,…
Lameness/injury
Pneumonia/respiratory disease
Scours/diarrhea
0 1 2 3 4 5
Average Number of Calves Lost
Figure 2: Calf deaths more than 24 hours after birth from heifers and cows.
Calving management is listed in Table 5. Just under half of all respondents are collecting birth
weights on calves. The average birth weight for those collecting the information was
approximately 88 lbs. The majority of respondents were administering selenium and vitamin
E shots at birth. Nearly half of respondents were also giving vitamin A and D, castrating bull
calves and recording the weight and sex of calves. Reasons for not castrating at birth included
purebred calves, which may become herd sires.
Weaning weights are shown in Table 6. The average weaning weight for all calves was 593
lbs. Nearly half of the weaning weights provided were estimates.
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 9Table 5: Calving management for birth weights and health treatments
Responses
Birth Weight Collection
YES, using a scale 17% 12
YES, using a weigh tape 10% 7
YES, using an estimate (eyeballing) 19% 13
NO 54% 38
Average Birth Weight (lbs) 88 30
Interventions
Intranasal respiratory vaccine 14% 9
Oral calf scours vaccine 25% 16
Selenium and Vitamin E 86% 56
Vitamin A, D 43% 28
Iodine naval dip 34% 22
Colostrum supplementation 26% 17
Castration of bull calves 40% 26
Tattoo (purebred) 3% 2
Weight and sex, record information in calving records 46% 30
Other 17% 11
Table 6: Calf weaning weight data and collection
Number of Calves Average Weaning Responses
Weaned Weight (lbs)
Cow-born Steers/Bulls 17 659 46
Cow-born Heifers 14 596 45
Heifer-born Steers/Bulls 4 585 28
Heifer-born Heifers 4 531 25
Weaning Weights Collected by Responses
Actual scale weights 35% 18
Estimates 49% 25
Sale weights 16% 8
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 10Calf marketing strategies are listed in Table 7. In the Atlantic region, many calves from New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia are marketed to feedlots on Prince Edward Island. Calves from
this region may also be sold through markets in Ontario and Quebec. In 2015, approximately
9,200 calves were marketed outside the Atlantic provinces. In most cases, calves were sold
at weaning and a large number of calves were sold following 30-60 days of pre-conditioning.
Several feeders and heifers were sold as yearlings or fed cattle. Other marketing strategies
included testing at the Maritime Beef Test Station, being sold as breeding bulls and heifers,
as well as entry into steer shows and sales. Direct marketing beef sales were noted as another
strategy. Eighty percent of calves were sold in a live auction off-site, through an order buyer
or directly to a feedlot. This survey did not ask the respondents for the feeding capacity of
the operations.
Table 7: Calf marketing strategies
Heifers Steers Responses
Priced and sold calves at weaning 60% 84% 20
Locked in price before weaning and sold at weaning 6% 0% 1
Locked in price before weaning then sold after 30-60 4% 22% 1
days pre- conditioning
Pre-conditioned calves 30-60 days then priced at time 60% 84% 20
of sale
Retain ownership and sell as yearlings 49% 71% 14
Retain ownership and sell as fed cattle 46% 65% 7
Retained for replacement (heifer or bull) 33% 10% 34
Sold as replacements (open) 27% 0% 5
Sold as replacements (bred) 2% 0% 3
Other 8% 50% 1
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 11Section 4: Culling and Death Loss
Females were culled in the fall for reproduction, physical soundness and calf performance.
During the spring, a larger number of females were culled due to prices. Bulls were culled
based on a change in genetics, physical soundness and age. Only 13% of respondents
euthanized an animal on farm in 2017.
Other
Economics (e.g. drought, prices)
Age
Temperament
Calf performance
Physical soundness (e.g. lame, bad udder, cancer…
Reproduction (e.g. open, late calving, aborted,…
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Fall 2016 Spring 2017
Figure 3: Breeding female culling decisions in the fall 2016 and spring 2017
Reproduction (e.g. failed semen test,
broken penis)
Physical soundness (e.g. lame,
conformation)
Progeny performance
Temperament
Age
Economics (e.g. drought, prices)
Change in genetics
Other
Figure 4: Bull culling decisions in 2017
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 12Section 5: Reproductive Management Practices
Breeding season management can be one of the most effective ways to make improvements
on farm. As mentioned in Section 2, a large portion of respondents are using natural service
only. Breeding technologies that have been implemented on farm are shown in Figure 5.
Artificial insemination is a technology that has existed since the 1950’s, however, there is
generally a low uptake of the technology in the beef sector. Of the 49 respondents, 53% are
using artificial insemination, followed by estrus synchronization and embryo transfer.
100.00%
Yes No
80.00%
60.00%
Uptake
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
Artificial insemination Estrus synchronization Embryo transfer
Breeding Technology
Figure 5: Breeding technologies implemented on-farm
The Maritime region is fortunate to have access to bull testing facilities at the Maritime Beef
Test Station (MBTS), which auctions 60+ bulls in their annual spring sale. From the 65
respondents that answered the breeding bull sources question, 68% purchased bulls directly
from another producer. This was followed by purchase at MBTS and purchase from another
province.
Table 8: Breeding bull sources
Responses
Auction – Maritime Beef Test Station 26% 17
Auction – Other province 22% 14
Auction – Outside of Canada 2% 1
Bought from sale barn (Truro or Sussex) 3% 2
Bought from local association/breeder sale 8% 5
AI only (no bulls) 9% 6
Directly from another producer 68% 44
Other 14% 9
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 13In 2014, the test station introduced semen testing to its performance protocol. The semen
evaluation is a standard procedure that must be included in a complete Breeding Soundness
Evaluation (BSE)3. The semen evaluation is one method used by MBTS to ensure that the
bulls sold will be of the highest quality. Completing the BSE on farm can be a challenge due
to the required equipment and expertise. Locally, a BSE may be completed at the Atlantic
Veterinary College for bulls that are sold privately. From the respondents, 93% of the bulls
purchased did not have a BSE completed.
Respondents were asked to rank their criteria when selecting a herd sire. The top three
selection criteria when choosing herd sires are listed in Figure 6.
1. Breed
2. Conformation
3. Pedigree
Figure 6: The top three selection criteria when choosing a herd sire.
Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and polled status rounded out the top 5 selection
criteria.
Pregnancy detection (preg-checks) can be a useful tool to evaluate herd reproductive health
and bull fertility4. It can also be useful to determine calving dates to sort bred females into
management groups. From the 66 responses, 49% are preg-checking their cows and 47%
are checking heifers. Of those completing pregnancy checks, 68% are using rectal palpation
and 32% are using ultrasound scans. Preg-checks, on average, were completed 112 days
after breeding.
Table 9: Pregnancy detection method for cows and heifers
Responses
Ultrasound 32% 12
Rectal palpation 68% 26
Blood test 0% 0
Number of Days 112 33
3
Bull Breeding Soundness Manual (2013) Barth, A.
4
http://www.beefresearch.ca/research/pregnancy-detection.cfm
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 14Section 6: Calf Preconditioning
Pre-conditioning is a term used to describe the preparation of feeder calves prior to entry
into a backgrounding or feedlot operation. Dehorning, castration, weaning and creep feeding
are just a few methods that are beneficial when preconditioning calves. According to the
responses, 60% of respondents have 100% polled calves (Figure 7). Dehorning management
is listed in Table 10. Horns may be removed by a Barnes dehorner or horn development
prevention may be used via polled genetics. In terms of pain control when dehorning, the
result was 50/50 whether or not it would be used.
Table 10: Calf dehorning management
Responses
Dehorning Methods
Disbud by electrocautery (“burn”, propane, butane) 12% 3
Dehorning paste 12% 3
Spoons, cut, gouge (Barnes dehorner) 36% 9
Polled genetics 32% 8
Keystone 0% 0
Wire 8% 2
Saw 0% 0
Other 0% 0
Pain Control at Dehorning
YES, all the time 27% 6
YES, depending on age and method used 23% 5
NO 50% 11
Local only 62% 8
Local plus pain killer (i.e. meloxicam) 23% 3
Pain killer only 0% 0
Other 23% 3
According to the Code of Practise for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle, it is recommended
that bull calves are castrated as early as possible, ideally in the first week of life5. According
to the replies of 65 respondents, 69% are castrating shortly after birth and 61% are using a
rubber band. These respondents also indicated that 90% of the time pain control is not used
during castration. Sixty five percent did not creep feed calves on pasture and 59% use
traditional separation at weaning. When asked about implants in calves, 100% of
respondents did not use implants.
5
http://www.nfacc.ca/pdfs/codes/beef_code_of_practice.pdf
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 15Responses
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
% of Responses
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
% Polled Calves
Figure 7: Percentage of calves born polled
Table 11: Castration management practises
Responses
Castration Typically Occurs
Shortly after birth 69% 45
At weaning 12% 8
Spring processing 11% 7
Fall/Spring processing 3% 2
Other 4% 3
Typical Method used to Castrate Bull Calves
Rubber band when < 3 months old 61% 40
Rubber band when > 3 months old 20% 13
Surgical: blade, scalpel 9% 6
Clamp, burdizzo 4% 3
Other 6% 4
Table 12: Weaning method typically used
Responses
Traditional separation 59% 39
Natural (e.g. Leave on cow) 1% 1
Nose paddle/two-stage 20% 13
Fence-line separation 17% 11
Other 3% 2
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 16Section 7: Grazing, Feeding and Water Management
One of the key strengths of beef production in the Atlantic region is the capacity to grow
forage. The typical grazing management practises on pasture are shown in Figure 8. Prior to
weaning, 95% of respondents are using rotational grazing. At weaning, there is a shift
towards continuous grazing, however, only 13 respondents answered this question in
comparison to the 60 which answered prior to weaning.
120.00%
100.00% Prior to weaning
At weaning
% of Respondents
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
Continuous Rotational Intensive
Grazing Method
Figure 8: Grazing management practises for cows with calves
Feed testing is one tool accessible to farm operators to determine the nutritional value of
their forages. Of the 64 respondents, 75% did not test their feed quality and only 10%
claimed to test feed on a regular basis. From the 26% total that did test their feed in 2016,
72% used the results to balance a ration.
Pasture rejuvenation is any treatment imposed on pasture areas to increase dry matter
productivity of that land or cause a shift towards higher yielding and more nutritious
forage species6. Just 22% of respondents were rejuvenating pastures every 1-5 years.
Table 13: Frequency of pasture rejuvenation
Responses
Every 1 - 5 years 22% 14
Every 6 - 10 years 27% 17
Less frequently than every 10 years 34% 22
Never 17% 11
6
http://www1.foragebeef.ca/$foragebeef/frgebeef.nsf/all/frg48/$FILE/rejuvtameforages.pdf
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 17Other
Standing corn
Stockpiles pasture
Bale grazing
Silage
Grain supplement
Grazing annuals (Rye grass)
Baled hay
Permanent pasture
Crop residue
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Number of Days
Figure 9: Average days on feed according to feed type
Days on feed is shown in Figure 9. On average, the respondents achieved 92 days on
permanent pasture, 83 days on silage, 74 days on baled hay, 66 days on stock piled pasture,
52 days on crop residues and 33 days on grazing annuals.
During the winter months, cattle were managed in a combination of indoors and outdoors
housing (Table 14) and typically sorted according to the stage of calving or by age. The
reported average cow weight was estimated at 1450 lbs. Eighty percent did not use a scale
to measure average cow weight.
Table 14: Cattle housing and sorting during winter months
Responses
Housing During Winter Months
Indoors 14% 9
Outdoors 14% 9
Combination of indoors and outdoors 70% 45
Other (Windbreak on pasture etc.) 2% 1
Breeding Females are sorted for Winter Feeding
Yes 35% 23
No 65% 42
Female Sorting
By age (e.g. 1st calvers, mature cows) 46% 11
By stage (e.g. due to calve, calved) 58% 14
By condition (e.g. main herd, thin cows) 33% 8
Other 0% 0
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 18Section 8: Animal Health Management Practices
Parasite management practises are listed in Table 15. The most commonly treated parasites
included lice (84%) and internal worms (70%). Of the respondents, 73% typically vaccinate
cattle and 45% vaccinate females pre-breeding. Injection sites are shown in Figure 10, 83%
claimed to inject in the neck region.
Table 15: On-farm parasite management practises
Responses
Parasite Treatments
Lice 84% 54
Flies 44% 28
Internal worms (yearly vaccination or based on egg count) 70% 45
Ticks 17% 11
Liver fluke 5% 3
Other (please specify) 9% 6
% Typically Vaccinate Cattle 73% 48
% Vaccinate Females Pre-Breeding 45% 29
90.00%
82.81%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
% Responses
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
7.81% 9.38% 7.81%
10.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Neck Shoulder Top hip (rump) Hind quarter Other
Injection Site
Figure 10: Typical injection site for health treatments
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 19Supplementing mineral to cattle is key to achieving optimal growth and reproduction. From
the 64 respondents, 97% are providing mineral to cattle. The most common method of
mineral supplementation is free choice mineral. Mineral was provided at pasture turn out
and at calving at 29% and 21% respectively.
Table 16: Mineral management on-farm
Responses
% Provide mineral to cows 97% 64
Mineral Feeding
Free choice (ad libitum) 91% 58
Included in feed (measured) 5% 3
Bolus 0% 0
Injectable 2% 1
Other 3% 2
Period Minerals Were Provided
% Pasture Turn out 29% 14
% Breeding season 13% 6
% Post breeding 0% 0
% Fall 8% 4
% Winter feeding 15% 7
% Pre-calving 15% 7
% Calving 21% 10
Body condition scoring is a hands-on method to determine the condition or fat cover of an
animal. The body condition of breeding females has been shown to affect the value of a
weaned calf 7. From the 66 responses, 83% of producers do not use body condition scoring.
7
http://www.beefresearch.ca/research/body-condition-scoring.cfm
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 20Section 9: Economics of Production
From the 62 respondents, 89% are using a chute and alley way or tub system on farm. Weigh
scales were used by 40% and age verification by 39% of respondents. Again, very low use of
growth promotants were reported.
For record keeping, 89% of respondents use paper records. Participation in the Verified Beef
Production program in general was 22%. The most common age to tag cattle was found to
be at birth (76%).
Table 17: Technologies and record keeping methods used on-farm
Responses
On-Farm Technologies
Weigh scales 40% 25
Chute and alley way or tub 89% 55
RFID tag reader 16% 10
Age verification 39% 24
Total mixed ration 10% 6
DNA technology (genomic testing) 11% 7
Implants or growth promotants 2% 1
Other 3% 2
Record Keeping
Paper records 89% 58
Electronic cattle management software 2% 1
None 2% 1
Other 8% 5
% Participate in the Verified Beef Production Program 22% 14
Animal Age at Tagging
Birth 76% 50
Weaning 12% 8
Market 8% 5
Other 5% 3
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 21Section 10: Sources of Information
Who producers routinely turn to for animal health decisions:
1. Veterinarians
2. Fellow Producers
3. Internet
4. Printed Materials
5. Extension Services
Who producers routinely turn to for animal nutrition decisions:
1. Veterinarians
2. Fellow Producers
3. Nutritionists
4. Printed Materials
5. Extension Services
Table 18: Methods of information sharing and content preferred by producers.
Responses
Preferred Method of Information Sharing
Email 91% 58
Newsletters 56% 36
Magazines, publications 67% 43
Television 5% 3
Radio 3% 2
Social media 25% 16
Topics of Interest
Updates from provincial cattle producer associations 80% 51
Updates from national cattle associations 50% 32
New technologies 73% 47
Government programs 77% 49
Nutrition 72% 46
Health 75% 48
Events 61% 39
Other 3% 2
2017 Atlantic Cow-Calf Survey 22Appendix A: Summary of Performance and Management Measures
Average number of breeding females on farm 44
Average length of breeding season (cows) 136 days
Average length of calving period 121 days
Average birth weight 88 lbs
Average weaning weight (all calves) 593 lbs
Bull purchase sources 1. Directly from another producer
2. MBTS
3. Outside province
Bull purchase decisions based on 1. Breed
2. Conformation
3. Pedigree
Preg-checks completed 112 days after breeding
Most common dehorning method Spoons, cut, Barnes dehorner
Most common castration method < 3 months of age, rubber band
Most common weaning method Traditional separation
Average number of days on permanent pasture 92 days
Housing during winter months Combination indoors and outdoors
Common parasite treatments Lice, internal worms
Typical injection site Neck
Mineral feeding Free choice
On-farm technology Chute and alley way or tub
On-farm record keeping Paper records
Who producers routinely turn to for animal health 1. Veterinarians
decisions 2. Fellow Producers
3. Internet
4. Printed Materials
5. Extension Services
Who producers routinely turn to for animal nutrition 1. Veterinarians
decisions 2. Fellow Producers
3. Nutritionists
4. Printed Materials
5. Extension Services
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